Rhode Island National Guard Child & Youth Program 2016 Annual Report
Rhode Island National Guard Child and Youth Program 2016 Annual Report m i s s i o n Our mission is to ensure that military children and youth have the tools and resources they need to be resilient while supporting their social, emotional, educational, and recreational needs. G o a l s Identify and support military youth and families throughout the deployment cycle by providing resources, opportunities, referrals, and support services Develop and facilitate meaningful trainings, programming, and activities that support the social, emotional, educational, and recreational needs of military youth while building resiliency skills and community Gather military youth from around the state to learn, grow, explore, and have fun, while cultivating a support network of peers Educate and provide resources to the community, especially schools and professionals working with military youth, on the impact of the deployment cycle on youth, families, and the community Create, nurture, and encourage community support networks for military youth [The program] gave them things to look forward to during their dad's deployment, and it continues to provide then with an environment where their experiences as part of a military family are understood and acknowledged or just treated as normal which is important when the majority of their interactions are on the civilian side. Parent, RI Family Satisfaction Survey, 2016 Branch/Component Ages 6-12 Ages 13-18 Adults Army National Guard 374 163 586 Air National Guard 154 86 170 Army Active 37 7 31 Army Reserve 9 7 17 Air Force Active 12 3 17 Air Force Reserve 2 1 3 Navy Active 52 20 68 Navy Reserve 9 1 9 Marine Active 3 0 14 Marine Reserve 5 0 3 Coast Guard Active 5 2 12 Coast Guard Reserve 0 0 2 Other 15 9 235 TOTAL: 677 299 1,167 Total YOUTH Served in FY 2016: 976 Programming Hours 258.5 Resources and Referrals 1,613 These activities have helped them deal with my absences, increased their social interaction, and got them into healthy activities they may not have been into otherwise. Parent, RI Family Satisfaction Survey, 2016
2016 Highlights 5 ARNG teens completed a 2-Hour Master Resiliency Training Workshop 18 Child and Youth Program Events and Programs 2 Military Youth Development Camps 1 Partnered Gold Star Teens Camp 8 Youth Council Meetings 10 Child and Youth Program Trainings, Briefings, School and Community Outreach, and Professional Development Days Supported 7 Family Readiness Group Events 1 Military Appreciation Day at a Sporting Event 1 State Youth Symposium 3 RI Military Family Program Events 1 Regional Youth Symposium Bring Your Child to Work Day Volunteers 163 adult and youth volunteers logged 1,066 hours Volunteers supported Camps, Educational Trips, and Family Program Events Volunteers were recognized at our RI Military Family Program s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner where they were honored with a special award from the Adjutant General Earth Day Celebration & Bring Your Child to Work Day On Friday, April 22, 2016, 20 Army and Air National Guard members and 29 of their children, ages 6-13 participated in Rhode Island National Guard s first ever Bring Your Child to Work Day and Earth Day celebration! The Environmental Program and the Rhode Island National Guard Child and Youth Program teamed up to provide education and show service members and their children how they can make a positive impact on the environment and their community. Families rotated through four missions where they participated in hands-on learning opportunities that all focused around the importance of environmental stewardship. Youth created biodegradable birdfeeders to provide food for birds and other wildlife that live in the area. They also upcycled plastic food containers and planted seeds to take home. This stressed the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling and encouraged youth to consider growing their own food. Youth ventured into a wooded area to collect natural objects, such as branches, rocks, leaves, and flowers to create art and collages. This opened their eyes to the hidden beauty in nature. Families also planted non-invasive shrubs and annual flowers around Camp Fogarty to create an aesthetically pleasing environment and inspire an appreciation of the environment for those who visit the property. During this activity, families also learned about carbon sequestration, soil stabilization, and gardening. In the afternoon, youth were provided with a workbook and instructed to shadow their parents at their duty station to learn about their occupation and how it positively impacts the community. They were encouraged to continue thinking environmentally, and find ways to make their parents workplace more environmentally friendly! Families and staff members had a wonderful day together and just as the beautiful flowers and shrubs around Camp Fogarty grow, we all look forward to this event growing in the future.
Pick A Brick A military community art project The Rhode Island Military Youth Council helped to create and facilitate our first ever military community art project, Pick a Brick! This took place at the RI Military Family Programs Hallway, the location of our state s only Family Assistance Center. This is a busy hallway, as it also houses our State Family Program Director, the Child and Youth Program, Family Readiness, Military OneSource, the Resiliency and Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, and Survivor Outreach Services. The goal was to create an environment that is warm, inviting, and inspiring for those who enter the hallway, including service members and their families, staff, and community partners. Families and friends were asked to put on a smock, grab a paint brush, pick a concrete brick, and get creative, and they did just that! Although we did not fill the walls completely, this will be an on-going project that families are eager to add to. Youth Council Our Youth Council, consisting of 10 members, volunteered their time at many programs and events to work with younger military children, together volunteering over 200 hours! As a group, they created and facilitated a haunted hallway at our annual Halloween Bash, an activity booth for our annual Holiday for Heroes in the winter, and an activity booth at our annual Carnival for Heroes in the summer. Youth Council members received several leadership trainings, their favorite training was our Military Teen Leadership Trip to Boston. The Youth Council joined forces with Connecticut s and Massachusetts Youth Councils and together they experienced a taste of MRT Training, and they loved it! They identified character strengths in themselves and others, then learned how those strengths applied to leadership and challenges. Next, the Council had an opportunity to apply their character strengths to a group challenge; using logic and clues to escape the room at Room Escapers! The experience was energizing and it was reported that the Council felt more connected, cohesive, and they were eager to do more together as a team.
Rhode Island N a t i o n a l & S t a t e P a r t n e r s Building Community Capacity The Rhode Island National Guard Child and Youth Program, together with youth, adults, schools, civic groups, military and private organizations, have created a statewide support network that is growing larger and stronger! This collaboration has provided much needed support for our amazing military kids and families. Providence College hosted a Military Appreciation basketball game, honoring military families and children Hasbro donated over 750 toys to military children during the holidays The Rhode Island Parent Information Network has a military liaison to help meet the needs of military youth in the public school system. The College Planning Center of Rhode Island offers free assistance for military families seeking financial aid for college The YMCA and the Y On the Move supported the Youth Program during Yellow Ribbon Events Operation Homefront held a Backpack Brigade, supplying RI military youth with over 500 backpacks filled with school supplies Rhode Island 4-H provided College and Career Exploration at the University of Rhode Island, public speaking instruction, various SPIN clubs, and Creative Art programming at the RING Leaders Military Youth Camp, serving over 150 youth. The Naval Station Newport School Liaison Office sponsored a Military Child Education Coalition Workshop for military-connected professionals The West Bay Anglers provide 100 spaces for military youth and adult military volunteers to go on a deep sea fishing trip through their Take a Kid Fishing Program The Wood Pawcatuck Watershed Association provided a kayak trip and nature exploration for 40 military youth and adult military volunteers [The program] has made them more confident in themselves, enhanced their ability to communicate, interact and lead as well as allowed them to begin to reach out to find and help other military youth in their school. Parent, RI Family Satisfaction Survey, 2016
Rhode Island National Guard Child and Youth Program 2016 Annual Report My children embody the pride that comes along with the title "military child". The youth program gave them that understanding and sense of pride. It was great to see my daughter come home from the summer camp the first time, with confidence, appreciation for her Dad's career and friends that she still has 3 years later. Parent, RI Family Satisfaction Survey, 2016 Staff is great and the programs and activities offered are truly such a great benefit of the military to our families. As a single parent service member it truly keeps me motivated to continue re enlisting so that my kids are able to take advantage of the free activities. Parent, RI Family Satisfaction Survey, 2016 My children have a sense of belonging in the military community even though we are National Guard members. They enjoy spending time with other military youth and have built their confidence in the areas of social and athletic skills. They look forward to every activity that is offered and feel very fortunate to have this program providing services for them to enjoy. Parent, RI Family Satisfaction Survey, 2016 Having my kids at camp was the most meaningful event I've brought them to. Yes, it was FUN, but it's more than that for me. I've been trying to find good, quality military friends for my kids for 12 years. My small school only has two military families and they have little kids. I feel it's important for them to have someone in their life that knows what it is like. Camp did this! They came home with quality connections, real friendships! Now when their dad goes away for a week, months, or a year, they have a friend to talk to! When there's an event, they ask their military friends if they are going. Success for us!! Mission completed!! Thank you, Holland!! -Veronica Moran, Military Spouse, 13th CST, Coventry, RI The Rhode Island Child and Youth Program is very organized and active in providing a multitude of programs that are of interest to our children. The [] children's camps are especially important to our kids; these programs are carried out with professionalism, great attention to detail and to the families needs and interests. Parent, RI Family Satisfaction Survey, 2016 C o n n e c t w i t h U s! www.facebook.com/ringcyp @ringyouth For more information, please contact: Lead Child & Youth Program Coordinator Rhode Island National Guard 401-275-1254 401-529-5848 Holland.k.tulip.ctr@mail.mil